Three workers from the Philippines employed by a construction company in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, expressed immense gratitude after receiving new work permits from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Raddy Adams Manicadao, one of the workers employed by Brycon Construction since 2022, shared his excitement about returning to work. The three men faced the risk of having to leave Canada when their permit extensions were rejected due to incomplete applications by their employer. Despite reapplying immediately, they were informed of a six-month processing period during which they were not permitted to work and their health coverage became void.
Their employer, Dave Hiscock, made efforts to seek assistance from politicians to no avail until their story gained attention on CBC News. Following this, on Sunday, Hiscock received new work permits for the employees. The workers were overjoyed upon receiving the news and promptly reported for duty on Monday. They expressed their gratitude for the Department of Immigration, with one worker mentioning his eagerness to support his family in the Philippines. The men, who are also seeking permanent residency in Halifax, are back on the job as Brycon Construction embarks on the Highway 103 twinning project.
The workers’ return to work was a moment of celebration for all parties involved, with the hope of reuniting their families in Halifax in the future.